Maternal Health Crisis

The U.S. is experiencing a maternal health crisis: it has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations; increasing rates of complications from pregnancy or childbirth; and persistent disparities in such outcomes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). GAO previously reported that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal health outcomes and highlighted racial disparities. This report examines, among other things, what available HHS data show about maternal health during COVID-19, and the extent to which HHS agencies have incorporated key practices to assess the performance of selected HHS maternal health efforts.